Yolo County libraries offer 'Pronunciator' for language learners

The Yolo County Library announced that starting in 2013, it will offer free for all library patrons, Pronunciator, the online language-learning system.

With 60 of the world's most popular languages, and English as a Second Language courses in 50 languages, Pronunciator is focused on quickly building conversational skills through a suite of interactive online drills, scored quizzes and downloadable audio lessons and phrasebooks.

Pronunciator offers five possible levels of instruction for each language, covering vocabulary, verbs, simple sentences and conversation. One level, specifically for tourists and business travelers, teaches 1,500 essential phrases covering everyday situations. Each course also has up to 350 hours of audio lessons, which patrons can download to a portable device, or burn to CD. Appropriate for children as well as adults, Pronunciator is designed to meet the language-learning needs of the entire community.

"We are delighted to be adding Pronunciator to the premium resources we offer our patrons," said Yolo County Librarian Patty Wong. "There are many reasons a person learns a language - for work, travel, school or simply personal enrichment - and Pronunciator has something for everyone."

The Pronunciator online language-learning system is generously donated by Robert Savage in memory of Davis Resident James Steichel, and will be available January 2013 through June 2014.